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Impact of Pre-Patterned Structures on Features of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures
Stella Maragkaki1, Panagiotis C Lingos1, George D Tsibidis1,2
1Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 10, 2021
Summary
Laser polarization significantly impacts surface pattern formation on nickel. Parallel polarization creates structures perpendicular to pre-patterns, while perpendicular polarization leads to patterns correlated with pre-pattern spacing, revealing electromagnetic mode interference.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Laser-Material Interactions
- Surface Science
Background:
- Efficient light coupling to surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) is crucial for plasmonics and laser-based fabrication.
- Understanding laser polarization effects on pre-patterned surfaces is key to controlling electromagnetic mode excitation and pattern formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pre-patterned surfaces and laser polarization in the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on nickel.
- To elucidate the relationship between polarization direction, pre-pattern geometry, and resulting LIPSS characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Irradiation of nickel surfaces with femtosecond laser pulses.
- Utilizing pre-patterned surfaces with varying ridge orientations.
- Varying the polarization of laser pulses (parallel and perpendicular to pre-pattern ridges).
- Analysis of experimental results using a multi-scale physical model.
Main Results:
- For parallel polarization, LIPSS formed perpendicularly to pre-patterns, independent of ridge spacing, with periodicities near the SPP wavelength.
- For perpendicular polarization, LIPSS periodicities correlated with pre-pattern spacing when larger than the laser wavelength.
- The study revealed the impact of electromagnetic mode interference on pattern formation.
Conclusions:
- Laser polarization and pre-pattern geometry critically influence LIPSS formation on nickel.
- SPP excitation and electromagnetic mode interference are key mechanisms governing these phenomena.
- The findings offer insights for advanced laser fabrication and plasmonic device design.
